Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-02-25
THE NICARAGUA CANAL.
The Incorporating Bill Passes the Senate
Monday.


WAsIINGToN, Feb. 21.-The Senate to.
day took up the bill to incorporate the
Maritime Canal company OF Nicaragua.
The question as to other companies having
charters from the republic of Nicaragua
was brought up by Mr. Hoar and in con
nection with it Mr.. Vest mentioned the
American, Atlantic and Pacific Ship Canal
company having a charter from Nicara
qua and said he had been informed by
the president of the company that the
company had the right to the way and had
expended $lO,0OO0O0 in surveys ana work
and that the concession was still in full
force. He sent to the clerks desk and
had read the opinion of an eminent LEGAL
firm in New York to the effect that the
right conferred upon the company 0under
the contract of 1870 survived unimpaired
Mr.. Vest sent to the clerks desk and had
read II communication from the president
of the American, Atlantic and Pacific
Ships Canal company, dated June 80, 1856.
claiming that the company was a legally
organized corporation, having Il charter
from the Republic of Nicaragua, that the
company had the exclusive right and
privilege to construct, own and manage
4 ship canal across the territory of Nj
caragua from the Atlantic to the Pacific
ocean, that that right survived uuimpaired.
that the location OF the canal had been fixed
from san Juan on the Atlantic ocean
to Brito on the Pacific coast Mr.. Vest
in opposing the resolution said There
was no more idea, except from anal
ogy, what Nicaragua might demand
than there was OF any other transaction
That might occur in coming years. They
knew by the past, however that Near
aqua would demand money. Beside all
other objections to the bill the United
states government in giving this charter
was to run solidly against England which
would strongly assert her right to share
III the control of the canal. He was OPP
posed to granting "A charter until all
doubts were removed, and until the mis-
understanding with Great Britain as to
the Clayton-Bulwe treaty was entirely
removed.
Mr.. Edmunds replied to Mr.. Vest. He
dissented entirely from the views eX-
pressed some time ago by the senator
from Massachusetts Mr.. Hoar, as to the
Clayton Rulwer treaty. He denied the in
situation that this bill had been withheld
until the Eads scheme had been put upon
the calendar. 1t had been introduced by
Senator Miller of California years before
Eads had thought of his scheme. The
opposition to this bill. he said, had not
leg to stand upon. The single question
was whether the private ambition of
canal to the hands of some other foreign
government instead of having it under
the influence and control of the United
States Mr.. Vests amendment was re-
lected without division. The bill was
then passed, yeas IS nays >.
The bill Incorporates Frederick Billings.
Charles p. DAILY, II. l.. Hotchkiss, Francis
A, Stout, w. b. Franklin, Daniel
Ammen, VIM. H. Merry, Horace Davis,
Edward +. Beale, James II. McMillen,
Shepard Romans and their associates as
the Maritime Canal company of Nicaragua
with the principal office in New York city.
The capital stock is to be not less than
s3O,OOO,OOO nor more than 800 900, 900. Ten
per cent is to be payable when the sub
scrlptions to the capital stock are made
and future payments are to be made as
the board of directors may determine
The aggregate of all changes, dues and to
wage is TO be reasonable, and not to eX-
coed -. % per ton weight of total of all car
90 ttuel and supplies included on board
any vessel in transit or not exceeding - %
per ton actual displacement of any steam
We sci and $40 per ton actual dlsplaCe-
ment of any sailing vessel